How to Rebuild an Attention Span (2013)

[dschiptsov]

There is a millennium-old game "that works", which is called "meditation". There are many versions, some nonsensical (tantric) and some not (so-called Raja Yoga, Zendo, etc).

[bsder]

See also: "playing a musical instrument".

I suspect "reading an actual paper book" would also qualify.

[domedefelice]

You are right. After a 10 days course of Vipassana my focus and attention span greatly improved. But you need to keep practicing. I kept practicing for about a month then I stopped. After stopping, slowly I acquired again the old habit of getting easily distracted. I need to take that (free) course again.

[wodenokoto]

What about mindfulness? it is by far the most well known form of meditation among the general population.

[Laaw]

Your comment is like writing, "Why not code everything in C?" on a Haskell post.

[ak217]

Meditation does not exercise the brain by deliberately pushing cognitive tasks on it.

[pepon]

My short attention span prevented me to read this article... It seems I crossed the no-return point, I am hopeless.

[juanuys]

Ironically, it isn't helped by the modals popping up asking me to subscribe.

[xpinguin]

I've heard of a similar game, names "passionate software engineer [in a small team]".

[ak217]

> “It’s the first real attempt to meaningfully harness the power of games in a dedicated cognitive enhancement tool,” commented C. Shawn Green, a neuroscientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and experts on brain training

This statement is an exaggeration. Games based on N-Back and Dual N-Back were first introduced in 1958 and 2003, depending on how you count.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/N-back

[lordfoom]

Would love to try if the game was in any way available. Are there similar options out there?

[Alterlife]

I found this info: http://gazzaleylab.ucsf.edu/neuroscience-projects/neuroracer...

> A company Adam Gazzaley co-founded, Akili Interactive Labs (http://www.akiliinteractive.com/), is now developing a clinical product in the form of a mobile video game (“Project: EVO”) that is based on the technology behind NeuroRacer. The company is currently running clinical trials which will validate the utility of the new game for use in specific populations. Until those trials are complete, the game will not be available to the general public. We suggest that you go to the Akili website for further news or additional inquiries.

That leads me here: http://www.brain.akiliinteractive.com/. A game has not yet been released but is available in some form for clinical trial.

[timdavila]

I use the Lumosity app (http://www.lumosity.com/) daily, which is marketed as a bundle of brain training games.

While I have made marked improvement in the games in the app, after reading the article I'm wondering if this is what the author is referring to as "lightly dressed-up versions of classic psychology paradigms"

In my experience I haven't noticed any of the illusive "transfer" of skills that NeuroRacer is designed to produce. So for now I will continue to use the app daily with a healthy amount of skepticism.

[domedefelice]

Yeah, I was wondering the same. Since NeuroRacer doesn't seem to be available, are there any other good games «to promote “interference-resisting abilities”»?

[honzzz]

It's also interesting to listen to the episode of The Tim Ferriss Show [1] where T. F. and Adam Gazzaley talk about this topic - how to enhance cognitive functions via games etc.

[1] http://fourhourworkweek.com/2015/06/22/adam-gazzaley/

[haddr]

So.. Where can I play that game?

[Raphmedia]

This is stupid, I know, but I recommend playing one of those boring looking simulator games.

Focus for one hour doing nothing but driving a train from point A to point B. Fly a plane around. Plough a field. Very zen.

[Eric_WVGG]

anyone up for some Desert Bus? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penn_%26_Teller%27s_Smoke_and_...

[t_g]

One of my favorite books on the subject is Shunryu Suzuki's "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zen_Mind,_Beginner%27s_Mind).

[slagfart]

The game itself sounds almost exactly like the new version of Outrun, or perhaps Afterburner Climax. Good news!

[pixelbath]

I was thinking RoadBlasters, myself. When "cars" appear on the screen, you "shoot" them while driving.

[adultSwim]

So I need to break out my old Simon?

[stefanix]

tl;dr

[mikhailfranco]

tl;dr

[mintplant]

I sent this one straight to my Instapaper reading list. I'm sure I'll get to it eventually.

[agiamas]

can't upvote enough... short attention span is the productivity killer of our times.